General Information
2023-2024 Academic Calendar
Fall 2023
| September 18 | Inaugural Mass. Fall semester begins |
| November 1 | Study Days |
| November 20-22 | Study Days |
| November 23 | Thanksgiving Day, classes do not meet |
| November 24 | Study Day |
| December 8 | Immaculate Conception, classes do not meet |
| December 12 | Our Lady of Guadalupe, classes do not meet |
| December 22 - January 5 | Christmas Break |
| January 8-18 | Final Exams |
Spring 2024
| January 29 | Spring semester begins |
| February 2 | Presentation of the Lord, classes do not meet |
| February 6 | Decretum Laudis, classes do not meet |
| March 1 | Study Day |
| March 13 | Study Day |
| March 19 | St. Joseph. President-Rector’s Day, classes do not meet |
| March 25-26 | Study days |
| March 27-April 5 | Easter Break |
| April 8 | Feast of the Annunciation, classes do not meet |
| May 1 | Study Day |
| May 9 | Ascension Day, classes do not meet |
| May 20-31 | Final Exams |
| May 31 | Graduation Ceremony |
History & Accreditation
The Legion of Christ was founded in 1941 and received Canonical Approval from the Roman Catholic Church in 1948. The Church’s Decree of Praise, Decretum Laudis, was issued in 1965, making the order a Congregation of pontifical right; and the last approval of her Constitutions was granted by the Holy See in 2020.
In the United States, the first house was established in 1965 in Woodmont, Connecticut. Today there are Legionary communities in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Wisconsin.
Since 1982, the Congregation has a novitiate in Cheshire, Connecticut. In 1991, the Legion of Christ College was established in order to provide schooling and education for Legionaries in their first two years of formation after profession.
The Legion of Christ College in Cheshire, Connecticut, received its license from the State of Connecticut Board of Higher Education in 2004, and accreditation in 2007. In 2022, the accreditation was renewed for another five-year period. The College is also certified by SEVP the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
Location & Building
Legion of Christ College is a 170,000 sq. ft. building on 104 acres in Cheshire, Connecticut. A 27,000 sq. ft. extension was added to the original building in 1991. In addition to the dormitories and offices for the College, the facility provides bright and pleasant study areas, ample classrooms and conference rooms, libraries, rooms for music appreciation, a 330-seat auditorium, dining rooms, receiving rooms, and three chapels.
Open fields and thickly wooded sections contribute to the beauty of the campus. Gardens, spacious lawns, and a landscaped courtyard invite to reflection and relaxation. Outdoor fields as well as a gymnasium serve for recreation and sports. All areas inside and outside the building are kept clean and orderly as part of the formative environment to instill a sense for harmony.
The proximity to New Haven, Hartford, New York City, and Boston allows easy access to some of the best Northeastern universities, libraries, museums, and other cultural institutions.
Library
The Students have access to a wide array of resources. The library contains some 40,000 volumes with the specialized fields of Spirituality, Literature, History, Art, and Languages.
The College has subscriptions for relevant journals in the fields of Theology, Classical Languages, History, and Sciences, in addition to newspapers and journals on current culture.
Students have access to an ample collection of recorded books and teaching materials, available in audio or video format.
The reference library is equipped with computer stations for internet access and research in the local library catalog, subscribed online resources, and intranet materials. Among these, our college has access to all online resources available through the Connecticut State Library.
The College’s students are encouraged to take advantage of the proximity of Yale University libraries and each year organize a tour to become familiar with their facilities, staff, and procedures.
Extracurricular Activities
Lectures and Conferences
Occasionally, a special speaker, either a faculty member, a scholar from another institution or another person qualified in the area of Liberal Arts and Humanities is invited to participate in our series of “Cheshire Lectures”. These lectures are open to the public. Students are also encouraged to attend lectures and conferences at the neighboring colleges and universities.
Concerts
The College offers its students the opportunity to attend a number of classical music concerts during the school year.
Choir
Students who pass the corresponding voice examination may participate in the choir. Rehearsals are held every Saturday morning. The choir performs at solemn liturgical celebrations, the yearly concerts before Christmas and Holy Week, and on other occasions. The repertoire of the choir is specialized in classical polyphony and chorales, but does not exclude other musical styles.
Tuition & Fees
Given the nature of the College, there are no fees or tuition charged to those students who are candidates for the priesthood.